Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Animal Shelter would like to remind pet owners of the dangers associated with the New Year’s Eve festivities and animals. Every New Year’s Eve holiday brings loud noises and disturbing activities, which frighten animals, causing otherwise docile and friendly pets to become agitated. Animals when frightened will often run away. Do not allow your pet to be in the vicinity of fireworks or other loud noises to reduce the likelihood of an accident or injury.

Keep your pet indoors, in the garage or in a secured pen during the holiday celebrations. Make sure your dog is licensed, and is wearing the license tag. The Sheriff’s Office Animal Shelter strongly encourages pet owners to micro-chip their dogs and cats. Local veterinarians and animal welfare groups can assist with micro-chipping. This is cheap insurance to assure you and your pet are re-united should they become lost.

If your pet does get lost please contact the Humboldt County Sheriff Animal Shelter as soon as possible at 707-840-9132. The shelter is located next to the airport in McKinleyville, at 980 Lycoming Ave. The shelter will be open on Thursday January 2, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for adoptions and redemptions of lost animals. If your pet becomes lost, we recommend you come into the shelter and look for your lost pet or check our website at www.petharbor.com to view the animals at the shelter. If you find a lost animal, please report it to the appropriate law enforcement/ animal regulatory agency where the animal was found. The shelter also maintains a lost animal log book.

There are currently many adoptable pets at the shelter waiting for a good home!